Overview
- Fills a gap in existing literature through its primary focus on history and use of nontechnical language
- A unique and diverse chronicle of celestial navigation
- Written by expert historians, scientists, and archivists in the field
Part of the book series: Historical & Cultural Astronomy (HCA)
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Table of contents (9 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
Keywords
About this book
This edited volume charts the history of celestial navigation over the course of five centuries. Written by a group of historians and scientists, it analyzes how competing navigation systems, technologies, and institutions emerged and developed, with a focus on the major players in the US and the UK.
The history covers the founding of the Royal Observatory; the first printing of a Nautical Almanac; the founding of the US and UK Nautical Almanac Offices; the creation of international standards for reference systems and astronomical constants; and the impact of 20th century technology on the field, among other topics. Additionally, the volume analyzes the present role and status of celestial navigation, particularly with respect to modern radio and satellite navigation systems.
With its diverse authorship and nontechnical language, this book will appeal to any reader interested in the history of science, technology, astronomy, and navigation over the ages.
Reviews
“This is an important story which should be of interest and concern to all.” (David Stickland, The Observatory, Vol. 141 (1280), February, 2021)
Editors and Affiliations
About the editors
Dr. Seidelmann has taught courses in Celestial Mechanics at Catholic University of America and the University of Maryland. He is coauthor of three books, “Fundamentals of Astrometry”, “TIME, From Earth Rotation to Atomic Physics” (1st and 2nd Editions), and “Celestial Mechanics and Astrodynamics: Theory and Practice”. Additionally, he is coeditor of the “Explanatory Supplement to the Astronomical Almanac”.
Dr. Seidelmann is a member of the International Astronomical Union, American Astronomical Society, American Institute of Astronautics and Aeronautics, Sigma Xi, Tau Beta Pi, Eta Kappa Nu, and Omicron Delta Kappa, and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Institute of Navigation, and the Royal Astronomical Society.
Catherine Hohenkerk started her working life straight from school in 1971, at Royal Greenwich Observatory (RGO). She spent the first four years in the Solar Department while studying (day-release) fora Higher National Certificate in mathematics, statistics and computing. Next, a useful period in the Computer Department while pursuing a day release mathematics degree. In the late 1970s she transferred to HM Nautical Almanac Office, where she remained until she retired at the end of January 2017. Her work has involved all aspects of the generation, production and printing of the data and tables in all the almanacs and associated publications of HMNAO. In 2005 she received the US Naval Observatory’s Superintendents award for her “distinguished service and extraordinary dedication to the joint publications”.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: The History of Celestial Navigation
Book Subtitle: Rise of the Royal Observatory and Nautical Almanacs
Editors: P. Kenneth Seidelmann, Catherine Y. Hohenkerk
Series Title: Historical & Cultural Astronomy
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43631-5
Publisher: Springer Cham
eBook Packages: Physics and Astronomy, Physics and Astronomy (R0)
Copyright Information: Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-43630-8Published: 30 June 2020
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-43633-9Published: 30 June 2021
eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-43631-5Published: 29 June 2020
Series ISSN: 2509-310X
Series E-ISSN: 2509-3118
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XVII, 332
Number of Illustrations: 25 b/w illustrations, 56 illustrations in colour
Topics: Astronomy, Observations and Techniques, History of Science, Geographical Information Systems/Cartography, History of Technology